The Iberian stag beetle (Lucanus barbarossa Fabricius, 1801) can be found in the Iberian Peninsula, southern France, and northern Africa. It is typically associated with cork oak (Quercus suber), holm oak (Quercus ilex), and black oak (Quercus pyrenaica) forests, though it has also been spotted in urban areas such as gardens and backyards. In Portugal, this species has been observed from Bragança to the Setúbal Peninsula.
Iberian stag beetles can be mistaken for female Lucanus cervus (Linnaeus, 1758), due to their smaller mandibles. However, these stag beetles have six lamellae on their antennae, while L. cervus females have only four.
Much remains to be discovered about this species. Currently, it is known that adults appear from late June to early July and can be observed until September. Mating can last several hours, or even days. After mating, the female seeks the best locations to lay approximately 20 eggs, usually under the bark of trees, in stumps, and among roots—primarily of Quercus spp. (oaks and holm oaks), but also Ulmus spp. (elms), Populus spp. (poplars), and Platanus spp. (plane trees). The larvae develop in the underground parts of decaying wood and, in their final larval stages, move into the soil to undergo metamorphosis, emerging as adults. Like many other organisms (e.g., tenebrionids, collembolans, mites, and fungi), lucanids are decomposers and play an important role in enriching the soil with nutrients.
In 2017, an inventory of specimens in the Museum was conducted as part of the VACALOURA.pt project. Of the approximately 300,000 insect specimens held by the MCUC, including over 30,000 Portuguese beetles, only 18 individuals of this species were recorded.
Some specimens of the Iberian stag beetle can be seen in the University of Coimbra Science Museum collection, in the Cabinet of Curiosities exhibition.
VACALOURA.pt is a 100% voluntary project aimed at contributing to the conservation of the Lucanus beetles, including the Iberian stag beetle and other species in the family Lucanidae. Since 2016, over 300 observations of this little-known species have been recorded—still very few compared to other Lucanidae species. Observers are encouraged to be vigilant and help locate the “lost” Iberian stag beetle.